I will call you – NW premier

TALK TO THE HAND. North West Premier Thandi Modise with MEC for Finance Paul Sebegoe at Brits Sports grounds in North West yesterday, before addressing Madibeng residents. Picture: Nigel Sibanda.

North West Premier Thandi Modise has appealed for patience from residents of the Madibeng area amid investigations into what led to an array of basic services-related concerns raised by various communities.

Locals living in areas such as Mothutlung, Majakaneng and Hebron embarked on protests in recent weeks against the lack of service delivery.

Addressing less than 200 residents who converged on the Brits sports grounds yesterday, Modise said the provincial government started conducting investigations since last week.

Among the concerns raised by residents, according to Modise, are a lack of water and insufficient supply of water in some areas.

“Most of the areas that we have visited recently have raised common concerns – and we will continue to investigate and once we have a full detailed report or findings, we will come back to you.

“People have complained about the accuracy of meter readings and upon investigations, we found some of the people tasked with reading meters were nowhere to be found, while residents continue to receive bills,” said Modise.

Commenting on the issue of electrification, Modise said they will continue to hold discussions with power utility Eskom.

“We also received complaints about high mast lights, some of which have never worked. Others worked for a while.”

Modise also stressed that serious steps will be taken against government officials or public representatives found to have conducted themselves in an unbecoming manner. “We shall act against corruption,” Modise said.

She said issues of nepotism compromised the pace of service delivery to communities.

The Madibeng local municipality was placed under provincial administration early this week.

Meanwhile, residents were given an opportunity to raise their grievances.

Richard Modise from Oskraal said they have been waiting for their area to be electrified since 2005. “We want electricity, we can’t live like this,” he said.

Aubrey Modise from Maboloka demanded basic services from government. “It’s been 20 years of democracy and we have seen projects that turned out to be white elephants. We have seen water pipes being brought, but that has not helped because we need water, electricity and roads,” he added.

A resident from Mothutlung called on Modise to come to that area in person. “You must see for yourself what we are going through,” a ward committee member naming herself as Baitseng said.